Garment

ABSTRACT

A garment includes a body defining a torso opening, a first leg opening, and a second leg opening. The body has a crotch portion and an interior surface. A pad retention feature is disposed in the crotch portion of the body and extends from the interior surface of the body. The pad retention feature includes a front assembly of diagonally-extending members and a rear assembly of diagonally extending members.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/582,022, filed 30 Dec. 2011, and entitled “ProtectiveGarment,” which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference forall purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed subject matter of the application relates to garments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Modern lifestyles include activities that find less restrictive clothingdesirable. For example, more and more people engage in athleticactivities, such as walking, running, jogging, gymnastics, generalexercising, and the like. Even when not participating in athleticendeavors, people now desire clothing that allows more freedom ofmovement and that is less bulky.

Women face specific challenges with regard to clothing, for example,when wearing pants or shorts while experiencing menstrual or othervaginal discharge, or while experiencing bladder incontinence. Men alsoface certain challenges, such as bladder incontinence. These challengesare particularly evident when such people are engaging in athleticactivities. Moreover, many people, regardless of age or gender,experience bunching of shorts between their legs while being active.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the subject matter of theapplication are set forth in the appended claims. However, the subjectmatter of the application itself, as well as, a preferred mode of use,and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understoodby reference to the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is front, elevational view of an illustrative embodiment of agarment;

FIG. 2 is a rear, elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom, plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front, elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 turnedinside-out;

FIG. 5 is a rear, elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 turnedinside-out;

FIG. 6 is a bottom, plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 turnedinside-out;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1illustrating a pad retention feature;

FIG. 8 is a bottom, plan view of an embodiment alternative to that ofFIG. 1 turned inside-out;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 8,illustrating a pad retention feature;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a pad retentionfeature;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a pad retentionfeature;

FIG. 12 is a front, elevational view of an alternative embodiment of agarment;

FIG. 13 is a bottom, plan view of the garment of FIG. 12;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are front, elevational views of alternative embodimentsof a garment illustrating examples of garment leg lengths;

FIG. 16 is a front, elevational view of an alternative embodiment of agarment having a shorter body height;

FIG. 17 is a front, elevational view of an illustrative embodiment of agarment;

FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 17, takenalong the line 18-18 in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a bottom, plan view of a portion of the embodiment of FIGS.17 and 18, illustrating a crotch portion of the embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a front, elevational view of an illustrative embodiment of agarment;

FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 20, takenalong the line 21-21 in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a front, elevational view of an illustrative embodiment of agarment;

FIG. 23 is a front, elevational view of an illustrative embodiment of agarment; and

FIG. 24 is a front, elevational view of an illustrative embodiment of agarment.

While the subject matter of the application is susceptible to variousmodifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof havebeen shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described indetail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein ofspecific embodiments is not intended to limit the subject matter of theapplication to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, theintention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter of theapplication as defined by the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrative embodiments of the subject matter of the application aredescribed below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of anactual implementation are described in this specification. It will ofcourse be appreciated that in the development of any such actualembodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made toachieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance withsystem-related and business-related constraints, which will vary fromone implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated thatsuch a development effort might be complex and time-consuming but wouldnevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in theart having the benefit of this disclosure.

Reference will now be made in detail to certain example embodiments ofthe subject matter of the application, which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

A garment comprises a body defining a torso opening, a first legopening, and a second leg opening. Disposed on an inner surface of thegarment between the first leg opening and the second leg opening is apad retention feature. The pad retention feature is configured to retainan absorbent pad generally in a crotch area of a person, such as atleast generally proximate a vagina of a female or at least generallyproximate a penis of a male, when the garment is worn by the person. Inone embodiment, the pad retention feature is configured to retain anelongated absorbent pad, such as a menstrual pad, maxi-pad, mini-pad,panty liner, or the like, of various sizes, in a crotch area of theperson, such as at least generally proximate the vagina of the female orat least generally proximate the penis of the male when the garment isworn by the person. The pad retention feature, in one embodiment,comprises a first pair of diagonally-extending retention elementsdisposed at a first end of the pad retention feature and a second pairof diagonally-extending retention elements disposed at a second,opposite end of the pad retention feature. The diagonally-extendingretention elements allow the pad retention feature to retain pads ofvarious sizes and shapes and allow the pad retention feature to betterretain pads in place. In one embodiment, the pad retention feature isconfigured to retain a pad exhibiting a size and shape that is specificfor the garment. In one embodiment, the pad retention feature comprisesa first, side retention element and a second, side retention element.The first, side retention element and the second, side retention elementextend generally between the first end and the second end of the padretention feature. In one embodiment, the garment further comprises afirst leg portion extending from the first leg opening and a second legportion extending from the second leg opening. In various embodiments,such first and second leg portions may extend for various lengths, suchas lengths suitable for shorts, capri-length pants, full-length pants,or the like.

The subject matter of the application further includes a garment,referred to herein as shorts, having leg configurations that inhibitbunching of the legs of the shorts generally proximate a crotch area orgenerally between the legs of the shorts wearer. The garment comprises abody portion defining a torso opening, a first leg opening, and a secondleg opening. A first leg portion extends from the first leg opening anda second leg portion extends from the second leg opening. Each of thefirst leg portion and the second leg portion define a passagewayextending from an inner volume of the body portion. Each of the firstleg portion and the second leg portion define a notch on inwardly-facingparts thereof, extending toward the body portion of the shorts.

A first, illustrative embodiment of a garment 101 is shown in FIGS. 1-6.FIG. 1 is a front, elevational view of garment 101, FIG. 2 is a rear,elevational view of garment 101, and FIG. 3 is a bottom, plan view ofgarment 101. FIGS. 1-3 depict views of an exterior of garment 101. FIG.4 is a front, elevational view of garment 101, FIG. 5 is a rear,elevational view of garment 101, and FIG. 6 is a bottom, plan view ofgarment 101. FIGS. 4-6 depict views of garment 101 turned inside-out,illustrating an interior of garment 101. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6,a garment 101 comprises a body 103 defining a torso opening 105, a firstleg opening 107, and a second leg opening 109. Body 103 is configured tobe worn about a person's lower torso, such as about a person's hips and,in one embodiment, comprises one of spandex, elastane, Lycra®, Elaspan®,Acepora®, Creora®, ROICA®, Dorlastan®, Linel®, ESPA®, or the like.Garment 101 further comprises a pad retention feature 111 affixed to acrotch area 113 of an interior surface 115 (shown in FIGS. 4-6) of body103.

FIG. 7 depicts a portion of the embodiment of garment 101 including padretention feature 111. In the depiction shown in FIG. 7, the portion ofgarment 101 illustrated is shown turned inside-out, as in FIGS. 4-6.Moreover, the portion of garment 101 shown is laid flat to betterillustrate pad retention feature 111. In the embodiment shown, padretention feature 111 comprises a first, front retention member 117 anda second, front retention member 119. Pad retention feature 111 furthercomprises a first, rear retention member 121 and a second, rearretention member 123. A front assembly 125 comprises first, frontretention member 117 and second, front retention member 119. A rearassembly 127 comprises first, rear retention member 121 and second, rearretention member 123. Front assembly 125 and rear assembly 127 arespaced apart a distance D sufficient to accommodate and retain a pad129, shown in phantom in FIG. 7. In at least one embodiment, frontassembly 125 extends generally to rear assembly 127. In someembodiments, the present garment includes pad 129 and in otherembodiments the present garment omits pad 129.

In the illustrated embodiment, retention members 117, 119, 121, and 123are generally triangular in shape and diagonally extend across ends ofpad 129. Retention members 117, 119, 121, and 123 comprise one or morestretch fabrics, such as spandex, elastane, Lycra®, Elaspan®, Acepora®,Creora®, ROICA®, Dorlastan®, Linel®, ESPA®, or the like. As retentionmembers 117, 119, 121, and 123 extend diagonally, they allow padretention feature 111 to retain pads of various sizes and shapes, suchas pad 129 or a smaller pad 128. In the illustrated embodiment, second,front retention member 119 extends over a portion of first, frontretention member 117 and second, rear retention member extends over aportion of first, rear retention member 117; however, the scope of thepresent invention is not so limited. Dashed lines 130 a and 130 brepresent stitching or other attachment features used to affix padretention feature to body 103 of garment 101. When pad 129 is in usewith garment 101, pad is disposed between pad retention feature 111 andbody 103 of garment 101.

FIG. 8 depicts a second, illustrative embodiment of a garment 131comprising body 103 defining torso opening 105, first leg opening 107,and second leg opening 109. Similar to the first, illustrativeembodiment, garment 131 further comprises a pad retention feature 133affixed to crotch area 113 of an interior surface 115 of body 103. Asbest shown in FIG. 9, pad retention feature 133 includes front assembly125, comprising retention members 117 and 119, and rear assembly 127,comprising retention members 121 and 123. Pad retention feature 133further comprises a first, side retention member 135 and a second, sideretention 137 disposed on an opposite side of pad 129. Dashed line 139represents stitching or other attachment features used to affix padretention feature 133 to body 103 of garment 131. When pad 129 is inuse, pad 129 is disposed between pad retention feature 133 and body 103of garment 131. As in the first, illustrative embodiment, retentionmembers 117, 119, 121, and 123, as well as side retention members 135and 137, comprise an stretch material, such as spandex, elastane,Lycra®, Elaspan®, Acepora®, Creora®, ROICA®, Dorlastan®, Linel®, ESPA®,or the like. In certain embodiments, side retention members 135 and 137comprise an elastic material, such as a cloth-covered elastic material.

FIG. 10 depicts a third, illustrative embodiment of a pad retentionfeature 141, which may be applied to any garment embodiment disclosed orshown herein instead of the particular pad retention feature disclosedas corresponding with that garment. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, padretention feature 141 generally corresponds to pad retention feature 133of FIGS. 9 and 10 except that first, front retention member 117 andfirst, rear retention member 121 are disposed between first, sideretention member 135 and body 103 of the garment and second, frontretention member 119 and second, rear retention member 123 are disposedbetween second, side retention member 137 and body 103 of the garment.It should be noted that in FIG. 10 pad 129 is omitted for clarity.

A fourth, illustrative embodiment of a pad retention feature 143, whichmay be applied to any garment embodiment disclosed or shown hereininstead of the particular pad retention feature disclosed ascorresponding with that garment, is shown in FIG. 11. The embodiment ofFIG. 11 generally corresponds with the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9except that pad retention feature 143 includes a liner 145 disposedbetween body 103 of the garment and retention members 117, 119, 121,123, 135, and 137.

In some embodiments, certain elements of the pad retention feature arestretched or elongated as they are attached to the body of the garmentto enhance their ability to retain a pad. For example, in oneembodiment, side retention members, such as side retention members 135and 137 are stretched or elongated as they are attached or sewed. Thescope of the subject matter of the application encompasses embodimentswherein such elements are stretched as they are attached and embodimentswherein no such stretching is performed during attachment.

FIGS. 12 and 13 depict a front, elevational view and a bottom, planview, respectively, of an illustrative embodiment of a garment 147generally corresponding to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, except thatfront assembly 125 is disposed on body 103 at a higher elevation, i.e.,closer to trunk opening 105, than rear assembly 127. The scope of thepresent invention encompasses the adaptation of this embodiment to otherembodiments disclosed herein, such that a front portion of the padretention feature is disposed closer to the trunk opening of the garmentthan a rear portion of the pad retention feature. In FIG. 13, line 148 arepresents a central plane passing through garment 101, bifurcatinggarment 101 into a front portion 148 b and a rear portion 148 c. A line148 d represents a central axis of pad retention feature 111, such thatfront assembly 125 and rear assembly 127 of pad retention feature 111are generally equidistant from central axis 148 d. In this embodiment,pad retention feature 111 is shifted by a distance X away from centralplane 148 a of garment 101. In one embodiment, distance X is a distanceno greater than about seven inches. In another, alternative embodiment,distance X is a distance no greater than about one and one-half inches.In another, alternative embodiment, distance X is a distance of aboutone inch. It should be noted, however, that the scope of the subjectmatter of the application is not limited to these example distances Xbut, rather, encompasses the full range of distances X that are suitablefor use in garment 147. It should also be noted that, in someembodiments, a rear portion, such as rear assembly 127, of the padretention feature is disposed closer to the trunk opening of the garmentthan a front portion, such as front assembly 125, of the pad retentionfeature.

FIGS. 14-16 depict alternative embodiments for the present garment. Forexample, in FIG. 14, a garment 149 is shown that is, for example, a pairof shorts, for example, compression shorts. In FIG. 15, a garment 151 isshown that is, for example, a pair of pants, for example, compressionpants. In FIG. 16, a garment 161 includes a body 163 that is shorter,for example, from torso opening 105 to leg openings 107, 109 than thatof the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6. It should be noted that the scope of thepresent invention encompasses garments having no legs, i.e., only legopenings, as well as garments having legs, such as legs 153, 155, 157,159, or the like, of any suitable length. The particular embodimentsshown in FIGS. 14-16 include pad retention feature 111; however, thescope of the present invention encompasses the inclusion of anydisclosed pad retention feature in garment 149, 161, or theirequivalents.

It should be noted that the scope of the present invention includes theuse of any stretch fabric for the retention members. It should furtherbe noted that the retention members may exhibit shapes that aredifferent from those shown and described herein. For example, front andrear retention members may exhibit shapes other than generallytriangular; however, such retention members will extend diagonallyacross the pad.

FIGS. 17 and 18 depict an illustrative embodiment of a garment 165,referred to herein in a non-limiting way as shorts, which may be made ofany suitable material. FIG. 17 is a front, elevational view of shorts165, while FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of shorts 165, taken alonga line 18-18 in FIG. 17. In the illustrated embodiment, shorts 165comprise a body 167 defining a torso opening 169, a first leg 171extending from body 167, and a second leg 173 extending from body 167.Body 167 is configured to be worn about a person's lower torso, such asabout a person's hips. First leg 171 and second leg 173 define notches175 and 177, respectively, on inwardly-facing parts of legs 171 and 173,proximate a crotch area 179. To enhance illustration of notches 175 and177, phantom lines 181 and 183 in FIG. 17 and phantom line 185 in FIG.18 reveal an example perimeter of conventional shorts.

FIG. 19 depicts crotch area 179 and portions of legs 171 and 173 ofshorts 165. It should be noted that, in the view of FIG. 19, shorts 165are laid flat to better illustrate particular aspects of shorts 165.Legs 171 and 173 are configured with notches 175 and 177, respectively,such that crotch area 179 has a reduced width portion, in oneembodiment, exhibiting a width W of no more than about three and onehalf inches and, in another embodiment, exhibiting a width W of no morethan about two and one half inches. Irrespective of the width of thereduced width portion of crotch area 179, the reduced width portion ofcrotch area 179 extends over a length L of at least about two inches inone embodiment and, in another embodiment, extends over a length L of atleast about four inches. Legs 171 and 173 define notches, such asnotches 175 and 177, on inwardly-facing parts thereof inhibit thebunching of material of shorts 165 between a wearer's legs, generallyproximate crotch area 179 of shorts 165.

While legs 171 and 173 of shorts 165 are depicted in FIGS. 17-19 ashaving peripheries defining notches 175 and 177, respectively, that aregenerally angular in shape, the scope of the subject matter of theapplication is not so limited. Rather, the scope of the presentapplication encompasses many, various particular shapes of the legperipheries defining such notches. For example, FIGS. 20 and 21 depictan illustrative embodiment of shorts 193 wherein the peripheries 195 and197 of legs 199 and 201, respectively, are more curved in nature, ratherthan angular. Irrespective of the particular shape of the notchperipheries, the crotch area of such shorts exhibits a width and alength within the widths W and lengths L disclosed regarding FIG. 19.

The scope of the subject matter of the application encompasses, incertain embodiments, combinations of shorts 165, 193, or the equivalent,and one of garments 101, 131 147, 149, 151, 161, or the like. Forexample, FIG. 22 depicts a garment 203, which is a combination of shorts193, shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, and garment 149, referred to herein withrespect to the embodiment of FIG. 22 as undergarment 149, shown in FIG.14. In such embodiments, the garment comprises one waistband, withbodies of the undergarment and shorts extending therefrom. For example,garment 203 comprises one waistband 205, with a body 207 of undergarment149 and a body 209 of shorts 193 extending from waistband 205.Undergarment 149 is disposed within shorts 193, except for any portionof undergarment 149 that extends from legs 211 and 213 of shorts 193.

It should also be noted that the scope of the subject matter of theapplication further encompasses, in certain embodiments, combinations ofshorts 165, 193, or the equivalent, and one of garments 101, 131 147,149, 151, 161, or the like omitting a pad retention feature, such as padretention feature 111 or the like. FIG. 23 depicts one particularembodiment of a garment 215 that is an example of such a configuration,in which shorts 193 are combined with an undergarment 216. As in theembodiment of FIG. 22, garment 215 comprises one waistband, with thebodies of undergarment 216 and shorts 193 extending therefrom.Undergarment 216, in the illustrated embodiment, exhibits substantiallythe same configuration as garment 149, shown in FIG. 14, except that padretention feature 111 of garment 149 is omitted. It should be notedthat, in such embodiments, shorts 165, 193, or the like may be combinedwith any of garments 101, 131, 149, 151, 161, or the like, omitting anypad retention feature of garments 101, 131 149, 151, 161, or the like.Moreover, the scope of the present invention encompasses embodimentswherein shorts having legs with peripheries defining notches oninwardly-facing parts thereof, proximate crotch areas of the shorts, arecombined with any suitable undergarment, wherein the combination garmentincludes one waistband, with the outer garment and undergarmentextending therefrom.

It should be noted that the overall shapes of the shorts shown hereinare merely examples of the many, various shapes contemplated by thesubject matter of the application. In any such embodiment, legs of theshorts define notches on inwardly-facing parts thereof, proximate acrotch area of the shorts.

It should also be noted that any garment having a pad retention featuredisclosed herein, or such equivalents, may be combined with any outergarment, such as conventional shorts, a tennis skirt, or the like into agarment having a single waistband, such that the outer garment and theundergarment extend from the waistband. For example, FIG. 24 depicts anillustrative embodiment of such a garment 217. Garment 217 comprises anouter garment 221, such as shorts, and an inner garment, such as garment149 of FIG. 14, each extending from a single waistband 223. The scope ofthe subject matter of the application encompasses combinations of anyouter garment and one of garments 101, 131 147, 149, 151, 161, or anequivalent.

The present invention provide significant advantages including, but notlimited to, (1) providing a way to accommodate needs of bladderincontinence, menstruation, and/or other vaginal discharge; (2)providing a way to accommodate needs of bladder incontinence,menstruation, and/or other vaginal discharge during impact sports orother athletic activities; (3) allowing for quick and continuous legmovements while holding pad in place; (4) providing a front assembly anda rear assembly to hold front and back of pad generally flat; (5)providing side retention members, when included, to hold sides of padflat and cover edges of pad, inhibiting pad edges from scratching legs;(6) providing a pad retention feature that accommodates most sizes ofpads or liners; (7) providing a pad retention feature that allows forsubstantial exposure of the pad to body, thus allowing for maximumabsorption by the pad; and (8) providing a garment or short thatinhibits the bunching of fabric between the wearer's legs.

The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as thesubject matter of the application may be modified and practiced indifferent but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the arthaving the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitationsare intended to the details of construction or design herein shown,other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evidentthat the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered ormodified and all such variations are considered within the scope andspirit of the subject matter of the application. Accordingly, theprotection sought herein is as set forth in the claim below. It isapparent that an invention with significant advantages has beendescribed and illustrated. Although the present invention is shown in alimited number of forms, it is not limited to just these forms, but isamenable to various changes and modifications without departing from thespirit thereof.

1. A garment, comprising: a body defining a torso opening, a first legopening, and a second leg opening, the body further having a crotchportion and an interior surface; and a pad retention feature disposed inthe crotch portion of the body and extending from the interior surfaceof the body, the pad retention feature including a front assembly ofdiagonally-extending members and a rear assembly of diagonally extendingmembers.
 2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the pad retention feature isconfigured to retain an absorbent pad.
 3. (canceled)
 4. The garment ofclaim 2, wherein the pad retention feature is configured to retainabsorbent pads of various sizes.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The garment of claim1, wherein the pad retention feature further comprises a first sideretention element disposed at a first side of the pad retention featureand a second side retention element disposed at a second side of the padretention feature. 7-10. (canceled)
 11. The garment of claim 6, whereineach of the side retention elements are stretched prior to beingattached to the garment.
 12. The garment of claim 1, further comprisinga first leg portion extending from the first leg opening and a secondleg portion extending from the second leg opening. 13-15. (canceled) 16.The garment of claim 1, wherein the front assembly extends generally tothe rear assembly.
 17. (canceled)
 18. The garment of claim 1, whereinthe pad retention feature is disposed on the body such that the frontassembly is closer to the torso opening than the rear assembly. 19-81.(canceled)
 82. The garment of claim 1, further comprising: a waistbandfrom which the body extends; and shorts extending from the waistband.83. The garment of claim 82, wherein the shorts comprise: a shorts bodyhaving a crotch portion; a first leg extending from the shorts body; anda second leg extending from the shorts body; wherein each of the firstleg and the second leg defines a notch on an inwardly-facing partthereof generally proximate the crotch portion of the shorts body.
 84. Agarment, comprising: a shorts body having a crotch portion; a first legextending from the shorts body; and a second leg extending from theshorts body; wherein each of the first leg and the second leg defines anotch on an inwardly-facing part thereof generally proximate the crotcharea.
 85. The garment of claim 84, wherein the crotch portion of theshorts body exhibits a reduced width portion having a width of no morethan about three and one half inches.
 86. The garment of claim 85,wherein the reduced width portion has a length of at least about twoinches.
 87. The garment of claim 84, wherein the first leg and thesecond leg define generally angular notches.
 88. The garment of claim84, wherein the first leg and the second leg define generally curvednotches.
 89. The garment of claim 84, further comprising: a waistbandfrom which the shorts body extends; and an undergarment extending fromthe waistband.
 90. The garment of claim 89, further comprising a firstleg portion extending from the first leg opening defined by theundergarment and a second leg portion extending from the second legopening defined by the undergarment.
 91. The garment of claim 89,wherein the undergarment comprises: a body defining a torso opening, afirst leg opening, and a second leg opening, the body further having acrotch portion and an interior surface; and a pad retention featuredisposed in the crotch portion of the undergarment body and extendingfrom the interior surface of the undergarment body, the pad retentionfeature including a front assembly of diagonally-extending members and arear assembly of diagonally extending members.
 92. The garment of claim91, wherein the pad retention feature further comprises a first sideretention element disposed at a first side of the pad retention featureand a second side retention element disposed at a second side of the padretention feature.
 93. The garment of claim 91, wherein the padretention feature is disposed in the crotch portion of the undergarmentbody such that the front assembly is closer to the torso opening thanthe rear assembly.